Prolonged Survival of Free Tumor Fragments

Abstract

THE accidental implantation of malignant cells or tumor fragments during cancer surgery is receiving increasing attention as a cause of tumor recurrence.^{1 2 3 4} Experimental approaches to the study of tumor-cell dissemination all indicate the ease and frequency with which this accident may occur.^{5 6 7} This would not be an important problem if tumor cells with no blood supply were rapidly killed by anoxia. However, if they can survive until a new plasmatic or vascular circulation has been established, they may be an important cause of failure in cancer surgery.The problems of cell survival are also of significance in experimental tumor transplantation. . . .